"Since that day, we have had no customers ever come to our stall."
By the time Jin Bao finished his account, Lei Feng was already slightly annoyed. He quickly stood up and started proclaiming boldly.
"Fatty, I hear you. Do not worry. Today, I, Lei Feng, declare that in the future, you will be my junior brother. Anyone who is bullying you is bullying me as well."
"For starters, I will help you deal with that bastard Gourmet Sage. How dare he bully my brother?"
"Brother.. you cannot say such things."
Jin Bao immediately became scared at Lei Feng's words, and beads of sweat appeared on his face.
"Why can't I? Isn't he just an idiot who goes around throwing his weight around without having actual substance?" Lei Feng snorted.
"The Gourmet Sage... he is no ordinary person. In fact, he is a late stage Tier 2 alchemist. Even the head of the Azure Dragon city has to pay his respects before him."
"We commoners cannot afford to incur his wrath, or we would be finished." The fatty spoke in hushed voices.
"An alchemist? Heh, isn't that just mixing a few different ingredients together? That is just like cooking. How is that a big thing?" Lei Feng was not convinced.
"Brother. Alchemy goes far beyond that." Jin Bao shook his head and started explaining. "Alchemist is not like cooking. You have to have precise control over the ingredients and the flames. Even the slightest disturbance is enough to ruin the ingredients and fail the process."
"In fact, the success rates are so low, that even masters who have practiced for decades do not dare to be careless during the process. Even after all the correct preparations, still the success rates of making the final product is only roughly 30%."
"Fatty Bao, do you know why the success rates of alchemists are so low? Don't you think that it is strange given the years of preparation the alchemists put in practicing their craft?" Lei Feng began to speak mysteriously, looking out through the window.
Jin Bao, noticing Lei Feng's solemn look, ignored being called a fatty and asked in anticipation. "Why is that, brother?"
"Because... they are TRASH. Hahaha..." Lei Feng burst out laughing.
"Trash?" Jin Bao could not believe his ears. he had expected countless other reasons, but he could not have guessed Lei Feng's thoughts even in his wildest dreams."
"But of course," Lei Feng continued, still giggling. "What can you call people who have practiced till their hairs became white, and yet manage only a 30% success rate?"
"Calling them trash is actually insulting the trash. In fact, they are even lower than trash."
"Brother... you can eat what you want, but you cannot speak so casually. If someone hears us, we will be flogged to death."
Jin Bao started sweating at Lei Feng's words.
Even the king of the Great Blackwood Kingdom might be respectful to alchemists of higher ranks.
This was not just based on individual strength, but based on the strength of the Alchemist Association in which all alchemists were a part of.
The full strength of the guild was not even known, and the leader of the association was rumoured to have reached sainthood already. That was enough to keep all other factions and troublemakers stay away from the Alchemist Association.
But here, this man in front of him, was openly disrespecting them and calling them trash.
What would happen if this reached the ears of an actual alchemist?
'Brother, if you want to die, can you please not pull me into the grave with you?' Jin Bao trembled as he thought to himself.
"Say fatty..." Lei Feng continued, not caring about Jin Bao's troubled look.
"Do you want to take your restaurant to new heights?"
"What... what do you mean?"
Jin Bao could not understand what Lei Feng meant, so he just tilted his head.
"I mean, do you want people from far and wide to know about your restaurant and food, or better yet, become and alchemist yourself?" Lei Feng said with a grin.
Jin Bao's eyes went wide. He stumbled backward and his stool scraped against the wooden floor.
"Brother, are you joking?" He asked in surprise.
"Do I look like I am joking?" Lei Feng said seriously.
Jin Bao thought for a second, and then shook his head repeatedly, his double chin wobbling.
"Brother, stop joking! You heard what I said. Alchemists control fire and ingredients with incredible precision. It takes years of training and tons of resources to practice with!"
"The only thing I know is how to make noodles. How could I even think of becoming an alchemist?" Jin Bao's voice rose, and he clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture.
Lei Feng leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"That's because you are still thinking to become an alchemist like the trash alchemists you talked about," Lei Feng stated. "They have to focus on precise control because they only follow the recipes handed down by their masters. They don't understand the fundamental principles."
"The secret to a high success rate is not in the years you practice," Lei Feng continued. "It's about having the right ingredients and understanding the process."
"Brother.. the way you speak... I feel that you are an alchemy master yourself." Jin Bao spoke slowly, trying to see through Lei Feng.
"Of course. I am the best alchemist on this plant. There is no one better than me." Lei Feng immediately spoke proudly, hitting his chest.
"Brother.. It is not that I don't believe you.. but.." Jin Bao did not know how to continue.
"You do not believe me, right? Fine. As your master to be, I will show you some tricks and give you a gift. Take me to your kitchen."
"My Kitchen? Brother, what do you intend to do there?" Jin Bao asked.
"I will refine some pills for you to see." Lei Feng said coolly.
"What? Refine pills in the kitchen?" Jin Bao was stunned once again. Every time this brother of his opened his mouth, he got a shock.
"Fatty. Why are you asking so many questions? Just take me there."